IPL spot-fixing case: Court fumes as police seek adjournment

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Monday came under fire from a court here after it sought adjournment instead of advancing arguments on framing of charges in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing case, with the judge observing that the agency was not doing anything in the matter.

"From the last six months, this 'tamasha' (drama) is going on. Police are not doing anything in this case. I had fixed the schedule but again you are seeking adjournment," Additional Sessions Judge Neena Bansal Krishna, who was scheduled to hear the arguments today, said.

As the agitated judge threatened to order day-to-day hearing without fixing time, the prosecutor said he will advance the arguments on Tuesday.

As the proceedings started special public prosecutor Rajiv Mohan told the court that he need some time to advance the arguments as he had to go through the entire files and records of the case.

"I need some time. I will file written arguments also," he said, adding, "I am requesting for date for the last time."

After the prosecutor sought time to advance arguments, the court pulled up Special Cell of Delhi Police saying, "What are your investigating officers (IOs) doing? You have been seeking adjournments and since September, I am only giving dates in the matter."

"I have no space to fix the matter now. I will then fix the case on a day-to-day basis....I will not fix any time. You come at 10 AM in the morning and stand here up to 4 PM daily. If I will get time then I will hear the arguments," the judge said.

The court had earlier fixed the case for today for commencement of arguments on framing of charges in the case in which suspended cricketers S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, Ankeet Chavan and others, including underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, have been chargesheeted.

The police had given names of accused in six groups to the court, saying as per the charge sheet, the persons named in one group have similar roles in the entire conspiracy.